Overhead monorail system



March 3, 1953 H. OMSTED OVERHEAD MONORAIL SYSTEM 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1949 INVENTOR, Harald Omsfed I HTTO NEY.

March 3, 1953 H. OMSTED 2,530,075

OVERHEAD MONORAIL SYSTEM Filed Nov'. 28,1 1949 2 SHEETS--SI-IEET 2 7,, .35 Z, "AW/[Z 34% INVENTOR, H amid OmsIed w 4 MW. 2 0

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 Harald Omsted, Hasadena, Calif., assignor to- Monorail- Engineering and Construction Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif;

Application Nove'mber28, 1949, Serial Nm 129,836

1L Claims.

This invention relates to overhead monorail" systems, and more particularly to certain improvements in the supporting structure therefon.

and in which all. requirements for. speed, safety, strength, comfort and appearance arefully met. An important object of the present invention is the provision of a supporting structure for amonorail or overhead system which will make possible, feasible and practicable" the location of such supporting structuresalong the center'park strip, or other narrow strip, of present day free ways, so-called. In other words, this invention has-to do with a supportin'gstructure which can most advantageously: be placedalong the sameright-of-way required for a freeway without any increase in the'w-idth thereof thus making possible a very great saving inthe cost for right-of-way for such a system.

These advantages and savings are made possible by a special design of super-structure, and

particularly a V typeof tower or'support which I have invented, and which requiresa relatively narrow strip, or right-of-way, for the base or supporting foundation for such a system. In fact, the space or park strip between the two road-ways of travel in the present freeway or speedway will be adequate for the location of the supporting base or foundation for a practicable monorail or overhead railway system;

Not only is the V' type of supporting structure considered to be strong, practicable,- economical and eflicient, but it lend itself to neatness and stream-lined attractiveness as well.

'Other advantages and functioning features will be recognizedin the following. moredetailed de scription of practical embodiments of the invention, as illustrated on the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view showing a V support, with its foundation, and. with rail-supporting girders supported thereon, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is an end view of such, looking at Figure 1, on the vertical line 2-4 on Fig. l

Figure 3 is: an enlarged cross sectional view, taken. on line. 3'-3 on Fig. 2

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a V support of reinforced concrete construction, with adjustment means embodied therein, and with parts in section;

Figure5 is a' view similar to Fig. 2, of thereinforced concrete structure; shown in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged. sectional view of one.

of. the adiustment mechanisms seen in one of.

z the arms of the V- structure in" Fig. 4; and also seen on.li'ne66 on Fig. 5; and

Figure 7" is a. sectional detail, taken on line. 1I, Fig. 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of one end of the T-top of onev of the V-arms of the: reinforced concrete structure.

Referring: more in" detail to the drawings, this invention involves. the. use of a \l-form of sup-- porting structure for monorail or overhead rail way system. This requires a relatively narrow foundation or anchorage strip in the ground. The V-arms diverge upwardly to points of connection with the overhead girders on" which" the rails are-mounted. Each of the V-arms at its upper end is in the form of a T, and the railsupporting girders are secured to-the'outer' ends of said T. This V-form of supporting structure for a monorail or overhead system can be of. steel, or reinforced concrete design. shown both types of construction in theaccompanying two sheets of drawings, which I will now describe.

Broadly considered, the V-form of structure includes" two supporting arms, as 10, F0, as a supporting unit, connected together at their lower' ends and suitably anchored, as generally" indicated at H, with a substructure, generally indi-' cated at I 2, to give the necessary supporting baseandanchcrage strength for the load to be carried. This foundation and anchorage is again referred to.

Upon the upper ends of said arms, which and consisting in the main of two- I-beams or girders I1, l'i, secured to-the outer ends of the T-tops of said V-arms, as seen in Figs. 2' and 5, with such additional reinforcing connections therebetween as may be considered necessary for each job, but not necessary to be here shown.

This general structure, including the V'-arms; with the l'--tops at the upper ends thereof, constitutes, in the main, the invention of this application. Someof the details of construction of said arms and of the anchoring and supporting means, as shown for illustrative purposes, will now be described in connection with the drawings.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3,. a steel structure is illustrated, the V-arms thereof being fabricated as indicated in. Fig. 3, which shows a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. In this showing, an H-form or body, in cross section, is shown, designated as a: whole: I4; This:

I have H-form or body is formed of two T-members, as I4, l4, connected together, edge to edge, with a plate I5, welded therebetween. This form of construction is continued upwardly to form the top or T, upon which the rail-supporting girders are mounted. In Fig. 2 are shown curved T- members, as 54'', I4", with a triangular plate inserted therebetween and welded thereto, as indicated at l5". The I-beams or girders l1, II, at the opposite ends of the T structure, are secured to the outer ends of short I-beams l0, l0, secured in place against the T-members l4", I4", as seen in Fig. 2, thus supporting the main track-supporting girders ll, ll.

On the outer, opposite sides of said H-form or body, as here shown are two reinforcing members, as |6, |6, riveted or otherwise secured thereto, as may be desired. These finishing plates also give additional strength.

Secured to the outer main girders l1, H, are the rails l8, b8, mounted thereon, and suspended from which a car C, indicated in light broken lines, runs, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawmg.

It will be understood, of course, that any suitable steel construction can be used to form the V-arms, and also theline members or girders supported thereon, and upon which the rails are mounted, can be used. The present showing is illustrative.

The foundation and anchorage structure as here illustrated includes a concrete block, as l9, upon a larger concrete platform, as 20, which in turn is supported on suitable concrete pillars, as 2|, 2|, all under ground, or below the surface. The concrete platform or slab 23 has imbedded therein reinforced H-members, as 22, 22, with which are connected tie bolts, as 23, 23, extended up through the block it, and anchored at their upper ends in a steel plate structure, resting upon the concrete block l9, and consisting of upper and lower steel plates 24 and 25, with vertical spacing steel webs or members, as 26, 26, therebetween, all as illustrated in a general way in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood, of course, that many different types of anchoring foundations for the small end of these V-arms of the supporting structure can be used, after the general idea is thus presented.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, I will describe an embodiment of the invention in which the V-arms are made of reinforced concrete. The V-arms here are designated 39, 30, with re-- inforcing rods 3|, 3 indicated therein. Said V-arms are precast with the rods therein and left projecting from the lower ends of the arms, said arms being adapted to be lifted into place in a manner hereinafter again referred to.

The block 32, formed upon the platform 33, Fig. 4, and supported on concrete pillars 34-, 34, are all formed below the surface as a supporting foundation in a well known manner. Two segments of curbs are indicated at 35, 35, Fig. 5, to show the relationship of the roadway or speedway at opposite sides of the supporting structure.

The upper ends of said V-arms are also provided with reinforced concrete T-tops, designated as a whole 35, for supporting the rail-carrying girders, as 3'1, 31, and on which the rails 38, 38 are mounted. Referring to Fig. 8, the T-form is provided with reinforcing steel rods, as 40, connected at their outer ends with an end member or head 39, and to which the girder 37 is secured by welding, or otherwise, as may be determined by, the requirements.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 6, the reinforcing rods 3|, 3|, in the V-arms 30, 38-, are provided with means for making certain longitudinal adjustments for alinement purposes as said V-arms are put into place upon the block 32. This is accomplished in the following manner: The substructure, including the concrete pillars 34, 34, platform 33, and block 32, are formed as any foundation structure is formed out of concrete, with reinforcing and anchoring steel frames, as 4|, therein, and with connecting bolts 42, 42 extending therethrough as indicated in the sectional portion of Fig. 4, said bolts projecting from said block 32. The V-arms 3e are formed or cast separately, with the reinforcing rods 3i therein, as indicated, and projecting from the lower ends of the cast V-arms. These V-arms are then lifted into place and the ends of the reinforcing rods 3|, 3| are coupled to the projecting ends of the bolts 42, 42, by coupling means, as indicated in Fig. 6. This mechanism as here shown, includes a coupling member 43 on the end of rod 3|, formed to receive it as indicated, said coupling 43 being designed to screw over an intermediate member 44 which is externally threaded to receive the coupling member 43, and is also internally threaded, to screw on to the threaded end of the bolt 42. A lock nut 45 is shown on the bolt 42 for locking the parts securely together after adjustments have been made.

.When the V-arm has been thus cast and lifted into place, and the reinforcing rods therein are connected with the bolts 42, in the foundation block 32, and all adjustments have been made for accuracy of position of the V-arms, then the juncture of the lower end of the V-arm and the block 32, upon which it is mounted and secured and adjusted, is sealed in with forms and concrete, to form an integral structure around said coupling means, as seen in the sectional portion of Fig. 4. This is simply one means for getting accuracy in the construction when reinforced concrete is used for V-arms in the supporting structure for the rail-carrying girders 3?, 37, at the outer ends of the T-tops of said supporting structures. a

The drawings are illustrative of the invention involved herein, and no attempts have been made to indicate details of construction and arrangements, knowing that braces, and strengthening means can be used as may be required for each job. 7

While I have shown and described two different embodiments of the invention-fabricated steel structures and reinforced concrete structures, I am aware that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to the showing made for explanatory purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A supporting structure for an overhead railway system including a series of spaced supports, each formed of two oppositely inclined supporting arms, anchored at their lower ends, and diverging upwardly V-form in a plane parallel with the line of direction of said railway, a transverse supporting member on the upper end of each of said inclined arms, connecting rail-supporting girders extending from one support to the next support, lengthwise of the system, and connected with the outer ends of said transverse supporting members, and rails mounted on said connecting girders.

2. A supporting structure for an overhead rai1- way system made up of a series of V-form sup ports, in a plane parallel with the line of said railway, each composed of two arms having their lower connected ends anchored in the earth and their diverging upper ends each provided with a transverse T-top, with means at the opposite ends of each T-top for supporting rails for carrying suspended cars.

3. A supporting structure for an overhead railway system made up of a series of V-form supports, in a plane parallel with the line of said railway, each support being composed of. two arms having their lower ends connected and anchored in the earth and having their diverging upper ends each provided with a transverse supporting member, and rail-supporting girders connecting the outer ends of said supporting members along said railway, and rails on said girders at the opposite ends of said transverse supporting memhers on which cars suspended therefrom can move.

4. A supporting structure for an overhead rail way system including a series of spaced V-form supporting structures, each being composed of two arms having their lower ends connected together and anchored on the ground, and having their upper diverging ends each provided with a transverse supporting member, rail-supporting girders connecting the outer ends or" said transverse supporting members lengthwise of said sys tern, said V-form supports all extending in a direction parallel with the rails, and rails on and along said rail-supporting girders.

5. An overhead railway systei including V-form of supporting structures spaced along the system and standing in a plane parallel with the line of said railway, each consisting of two arms connected together in a foundation anchoring said structure to the ground, the diverging upper ends of said arms terminating in T-forms, the outer ends of said T-forms having connecting girders running along the system from the opposite ends of the T-form of one supporting structure to the next one, and rails on said girders along said system at the outer opposite ends of said T-forms.

6. In an overhead monorail system, a supporting structure of V-forms spaced along said system and standing in a plane parallel with the line of direction of said system, and each having a transverse supporting member on its upper end, rail-supporting girders connected with the outer ends of said transverse supporting members, along said system, with rails mounted thereon, said V-forms being anchored at their lower connected ends, and each arm thereof having means therein for adjustment longitudinally thereof.

7. In an overhead monorail system, a supporting structure of V-forms spaced along said system, the upper ends of the arms of said V-forms each being provided with a transverse supporting member, rail-supporting girders, with rails mounted thereon, connected with the outer ends of said transverse supporting members and connecting said members along said system, said V- forms standing in a plane parallel with the line of direction of said system, and being formed of reinforced concrete, the reinforcing being of steel rods, a foundation having steel rods projecting therefrom, coupling means between the rods of the foundation and the rods of the arms of the x -forms, for longitudinal adjustment as said V- forms are put into place upon said foundations, said coupling means being adjustable.

8. in an overhead monorail system, a supporting structure consisting of a series of spaced V- form structures, anchored at their connected ends and diverging upwardly, said V-forms being positioned longitudinally of the line of said system, and in a plane parallel with said line, a horizontal T-form arm mounted on the upper end of each of said V-arms and projecting transversely of the line of said system, said projecting horizontal arms being connected with rail-supporting girders, and rails mounted on said girders, whereby cars suspended from said rails and said connecting girders have their bodies under said horizontal arms.

9. A supporting structure for an overhead monorail system made of spaced V-forms having their lower connected ends anchored on the ground and their diverging arms spaced apart longitudinally of the line of said system, the upper ends of said arms each being provided with a transverse supporting T-top, the outer ends of which are connected with rail-supporting girders, with rails thereon lengthwise of said system, said rail-supporting girders and the rails thereon being spaced transversely of the line of said system and outwardly from said V-forms, to give clearance for cars suspended under said girders and the rails mounted thereon.

10. In a monorail system, supporting towers therefor spaced along the line of travel of said system, said supporting towers each consisting of two oppositely inclined supporting arms converging toward their lower ends, and diverging toward their upper rail-supporting ends, each of said supporting arms having a transverse T-top, connecting girders from one tower to the next one, supported by the outer ends of said T-tops, and rails on said girders along said system, said. supporting arms of each tower inclining in opposite directions to resist horizontal stress of cars moving on said rails toward said supporting tower.

11. In a monorail system, supporting towers therefor spaced along the line of travel of said system, said supporting towers each being of T- form and arranged in spaced pairs along said line of travel, the T-tops being transversely of said line of travel and said T-forms of each pair being oppositely inclined in the line of said system, rail-supporting girders secured to the outer opposite ends of said T-tops and from one to the other along the line of said system, rails on said girders, the inclines of said T-forms being in the direction from which horizontal stress comes with an approaching car.

HARALD OMSTED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 65,909 Harvey June 18, 1867 85,684 Montgomery Jan. 5, 1869 89,541 Montgomery Apr. 27, 1869 2,014,430 Fish Sept. 17, 1935 

